U.K. stocks were subdued on Thursday after data showed Britain's stagnated in February as a result of strikes by public workers.
Some index heavyweights went ex-dividend, further weighing on the market.
The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 2 points at 7,822 after gaining half a percent the previous day.
Lender Lloyds tumbled 3.2 percent and packaging firm Smurfit Kappa Group shed 2.4 percent on going ex-dividend.
Grocer Tesco rallied 2.3 percent after reporting a jump in annual sales.
High technology products group Oxford Instruments soared 5.5 percent after saying it was trading ahead of expectations for the full year.
Imperial Brands fell over 2 percent. The cigarette maker expects a drop in first-half revenue due to its exit from Russia.
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